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The Confessions Project invites Chicagoans to express their unspoken thoughts using a vintage typewriter and a mailbox for submissions. Creator Ernest Smith aims to foster healing and connection through shared experiences, collecting over 100 confessions since launching the project in Wicker Park. The initiative addresses personal challenges amid broader societal anxieties, including immigration enforcement.
Kristi Noem, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, falsely stated that no American citizens have been detained during immigration operations, despite numerous reports of such incidents in Chicago. Witnesses and legal representatives confirm that U.S. citizens have faced detention and questioning by federal agents, leading to legal scrutiny and a possible extension of restrictions on warrantless arrests.
Chicago residents can compost their Halloween pumpkins at various Pumpkin Smash events this Saturday, promoting eco-friendly waste disposal. Participants are required to remove all decorations before bringing their pumpkins to designated locations, where they can either smash them or leave them for composting. This initiative aims to reduce landfill waste and greenhouse gas emissions.
93.9 LITE FM will begin its all-holiday music format at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, marking a later start than in previous years. The launch coincides with a contest offering a trip to Las Vegas to see Mariah Carey perform.
Wicker Park’s “Meet Me On Milwaukee” car-free events will return in 2026 after a successful pilot program this year. The events, which closed Milwaukee Avenue to traffic for several Sundays, attracted significantly increased foot traffic, benefiting local businesses. Organizers reported attendance tripled during the August event compared to last year.
Michael Yoo and Jimmy Jung launched 82 Kimbap, a fast-casual eatery in Sterling Food Hall, serving Korean rice rolls. The duo, inspired by their craving for Korean comfort food, spent months perfecting their recipes before opening their stall. 82 Kimbap aims to provide a taste of home for the Asian American community in Chicago.
Three new restaurants are set to open in Bronzeville, including the Southern Southeast Asian eatery Dixie Pura, which recently celebrated its grand opening. Meanwhile, Turner Haus Brewery has paused its daily operations to focus on future plans after operating for nearly two years.
Federal agents apprehended Omar Huerta Cisneros, a man with schizophrenia, in Chicago Lawn while he walked to a grocery store. Bystander Edgar Manzo recorded the incident, providing crucial evidence for Cisneros' family, who struggled to locate him after his detention. Without the video, they would have remained unaware of his whereabouts for weeks.
President Donald Trump stated that federal immigration agents in Chicago “haven’t gone far enough” in their enforcement actions during a “60 Minutes” interview. He defended the use of aggressive tactics, despite public outcry and incidents involving the use of tear gas and rubber bullets against protesters. Local leaders continue to criticize these operations and seek peaceful resistance.
Tenants groups in Chicago urge local leaders to implement an eviction moratorium amid ongoing Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations targeting residents. The All-Chicago Tenants Alliance argues that fear of eviction exacerbates financial struggles for vulnerable workers, particularly in the Latino community. Mayor Brandon Johnson expressed willingness to consider the request, while no response has come from Governor JB Pritzker.